Sloth Bear

Sloth Bear

Grasslands and forested areas. It is most often found in drier forests.

Scientific Name

Melursus ursinus

Conservation Status

Threatened

The sloth bear's long muzzle, missing upper incisors, and flexible lips are perfect for vacuuming up termites, a mainstay of its diet. Sloth bears also eat other insects, fruit, eggs, honeycombs, and occasionally carrion.

Sloth bears are more nocturnal than other bears, but can be active at any hour.

Habitat destruction is the main threat to the sloth bear population, but they also face heavy poaching for parts to be used in traditional Asian medicine.

Did you know?

The sloth bear got its name because of the similarity of its long, curved claws to those of the sloth.